Karl Rove: Now blue-state Dems are feeling the heat, too

For months it has been clear that Democrats have a red-state problem in the Senate midterm elections: Seven Democratic seats are up for grabs in states Mitt Romneycarried in 2012, three of them opened by retirements.

Republican Congressman Cory Gardner’s decision on March 1 to run against Democratic Sen. Mark Udall in Colorado—a state President Obama carried in 2008 and 2012—indicates that Democrats have a blue-state problem too.

The problem stems from President Obama’s poor approval rating, compounded by able Republican candidates like Mr. Gardner, a rising star in the House.

Mr. Obama’s average Gallup approval rating in Colorado last year was 42.3%, compared with his 2013 national average of 46.5%. The state is also one of 44 where Mr. Obama received a smaller margin in 2012 (5.4%) than 2008 (9%). A February Quinnipiac poll put Sen. Udall a mere three points ahead of 2010 GOP nominee Ken Buck, who was widely seen as a flawed candidate.

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